Venetian blind assembly machine



Nov. 6, 1956 H. s. ROSENBAUM 2,769,223

VENE'IIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed July 18, 1951 4 Shee'tS -Sheet l INVENTOR f/arr y 5. fiSenbaum .KIAL 60.7 2], be:

' ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1951 INVENTOR R, f/arr/ J: Pare/rim:

KZQI Flock 5 ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. s. ROSENBAUM VENETIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 18 195.1

R m N E V W 59,24 CJJ-TM/eS ATTORNEY H. S. ROSENBAUM VENETIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY MACHINE Nov. 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18 1951 INVENTOR J arry .5: l osenbaum A5424. 60} 20mm.

' ATTORNEY United States Patent VENETIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY MACHINE Harry S. Rosenbaum, Baltimore, Md.

Application July 18, 1951, Serial No. 237,359

8 Claims. 01. 29 24.s

The present invention relates to apparatus for assembling Venetian blinds and more particularly to a apparatus for automatically assembling the slats betweenthe tape ladders of the conventional Venetian blind and threading the operating cords through the assembly.

Venetian blinds are conventionally formed with a tilt bar which supports two pairs of vertical tape ladders. Cross tapes are secured to the vertical or side tapes to support the slats. The raising and lowering of the slats is accomplished by an operating cord which passes through openings in the 'slats located in the region of the point of support of the cross tapes. These cords pass into the head box over a suitable mechanism well known to the art so that the blind may be raised or lowered to any position between the extreme upper and lower positions.

It has been the practice heretofore to assemble Venetian blinds manually by inserting each individual slat between successive cross tapes after which the operating cords must be threaded through all the openings in the slats downwardly to. the bottom bar or rail where they are secured. The assembly of the slats and threading of the cords is a time-consuming and tedious job.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for automatically assembling the slats through thetape ladders and ,threadingthe operating cords therethrough.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus for automatically feeding the tape ladders through the apparatus by a step-by-step motion, this step-by-step motion being coordinated with slat feeding mechanism whereby the slats are automatically fed into the tapes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for threading the operating card through the slats and bottom rail in a single operation.

Other objects andthe nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, parts being omitted for purpose of clearness.

Fig.2 is a plan view of Figure 1. I j

Fig. 3 is a detail of cord attaching means for the needles.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the tape feeding devices.

Fig. 6 is aside view of Figure 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the lines VII IVIII of Figure 1.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line IXIX of Figure 1. i

Fig. 10 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a slat pick-up mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating the method of threading the'cords through the slots, and

ice

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the tape feeding devices illustrating the method of feeding the tape.

'Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a generally'rect'angular frame, formed of vertical angle iron corners 6, cross angles 7 and cross braces 8. Arranged adjacent to and parallel with the front corners 6 are angle irons 9, equidistantly spaced from the corner angles throughout their length. The corner angles 6 and the angles 9 serve to provide trackways for a carriage 10. The carriage 10 is formed by angle irons 11 tied together at their ends and are provided with grooved track wheels 12 adapted to engage the edges of the angles 6 and .9. The carriage is adapted to be moved upwardly bycables 13 operating over pulleys 14 and provided at their free end with a weight 15, sutficient to .move the carriage and blind assembly carried thereby upwardly. vThepulleys are suitably mounted for rotation between .angle irons 16 rigidly secured to the top of the machine. The carriage 10 is provided with a pair of supporting arms 17, for a purpose to be described.

Rigidly mountedupon the forward side of the machine a suitable distance .from the bottom is a slotted bar 18. Adjustably, mounted upon the face of the bar are a: pair of identical tape -feeding devices 19, comprising adjustable U-shaped blocks 20, held in adjusted position by nuts 21. The blocks 20 are bored for the free passage of a reciprocatory rod 22. The legs of the U-shaped blocks are provided with slots 23 and 24 for the passage of reciprocating shuttle plates 25 and 26. The plates 25 and 26 are rigidly carried by blocks 27 and 28, rigidly tied together by a bar 29. The blocks 27 and 28 are bored for the reception of the rod 22 and are adjusted inunison and are rigidly secured to the rod 22 by set screws 30 and travel with the bar. As clearly shown, the plates 25 and 26 are mounted in overlapping position and ,spaced with respect to each other. 1

As clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9, the blocks 20 carry guide channel members 31 and positioned between the feed members 19 is a channel guide 32, adjustable upon the bar'18. The feed member 19 to the left is provided with an upstanding stop bar 33 serving to limit the movement of the slats with respect to the feed devices. 6

Rolls of woven double blind tape 34 are revolubly mounted on a rod 35: carried by the frame members and this tape is fed about rolls 36, likewise carried by the frame; The tapes then have free ends attached to the conventional bottom rail 37 and the rail is in turn placed upon the supporting arms 17 with the first cross tapes engaged beneath the plates 26. Since the weight 15 maintains aconstant upward pull on the carriage .10 and arms 17, "therewill be a constantupward pull on the tapes, since the tapes are secured to the lower rail 37 and the rail is supported on the arms '17. As clearly shownv in Figures6, 7 and '12, as the rod 22 is shifted to theright, the plates 25 and 26 will likewise be shifted to the right.' -When this occurs, the plates 26 release the cross tap'esheld. therebeneath and these cross tapes move upward. and engage the lower sides of the plates 25.- When therod is moved in the opposite direction, theplates 25 release/the cross tapes and both tapes move upward jjuntil. the next lower cross. tapes engage the plates 26. Inthis mannerthetapes are moved upward in a step-by-step motion, the distance at each step being equal to the space between the cross tapes. Means are providedto shift the rod 22 to the right, comprising a flexible cable or the like '38 passing about a pulley and having one endfastened to the rod 22 and the opposite end. to a rotatable disc 39, driven .by suitable means timed with slat feeding mechanism, to be described. A retractile spring 40 has connection with the opposite end of the rod 22 and to the frame and imparts a return movement to the rod. I t

Since in the construction and assembly of Venetian blinds it is necessary to insert slats between the tapes to be supported on the cross tapes, means has been provided to automatically insert a slat upon each upward step of the tapes. This means consists of an endless conveyor belt 41 passing about pulleys 42 suitably supported on shafts 43. The belt travels in a channel guide 44 and its upper flight is in horizontal alignment with the guides 31 and 32. The belt is driven by a motor 45 and travels toward the left. A slat placed upon the belt will be carried along and through the guides 31 and 32 until it strikes the stop bar 33. In its passage through the guides 31 and 32, the slat passes through the tapes 34 and as the tapes move upward they carry the slat upward and provide another space for the next slat. The belt is constantly driven and it becomes necessary to provide means for automatically placing the slats upon the belt.

A preferred pick-up means for the slats is shown in Figures 4, 9 and and comprises a U-shaped tubular member 46 having outwardly turned ends that are pivotally supported in swinging arms 47' and 48 mounted in bearings 49. The arms 47 and 48 carrying the member 46 swing toward and from the belt 41 When in pick-up position, the member 46 overlies a stack of slats S supported in a suitable rack, and when in the opposite or deposit position overlies the belt 41. The means for swinging the arms 47 and 48 comprises a pulley 50 carried by the shaft of the arm 47 over which a cable or chain 51 passes. One end of the chain or cable is attached to a rotating disc 52, while the opposite end is attached to a weight 53. As the disc rotates, the arm 47 is swung to the deposit position and a continued rotation of the disc permits the weight to pull the cable in the opposite direction for swinging the arms to the pick-up position. As clearly shown in'Figures 4, 9 and 10, the tubular member 46 is provided with a plurality of suction cups 54, having communication with the interior of the tubular member. One end of the member 46 is closed, while the opposite end has attached thereto a flexible hose 55, in turn connected with a suitable exhaust pump. Means, not shown, are provided to establish a communication with the atmopshere for'the interior of the member 46 when it overlies the belt 41 so that a slat that has been picked up by the suction cups 54 may be deposited upon the belt. It is essential that theplacing of the slats upon the belt be properly timed with the step-by-step movement of the tapes. The stack of slats are progressively moved upward by a bar 56 having attached thereto cables 57 passing over pulleys 58 and having a weight 59 suspended therefrom.

After the required number of slats'have been inserted, the machine is stopped and the tapes are cut off below the last slat. It now becomes necessary to thread the operating cords through the several slats and the lower rail. To accomplish this, needles 60 have been provided and these needles are supported in a vertical position upon brackets 61 adjustable upon an angle iron 62 carried by the upper portion of the frame. 'The needles when in adjusted position are in alignment with the cord openings of the slats and bottom rail, and as the slats are moved upward by the carriage the needles are automatically threaded through the openings. When the slats are completely assembled in the tapes, the needles project below the lowermost slats, see particularly Figure 11. Operating cords 63 are then connected with suitable detachable clips 64 having hooks 65. The hooks are then passed through openings 66 formed in the pointed ends of the needles 60. After the cords have beenattached, the

weight is raised, permitting the entire blindassembly removed from the needles and the clips removed. The ends of the cords are then knotted and the blind assembly removed from the machine for attachment to the head structure.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The rolls of tape ladders are mounted on the rod 35, fed about the rolls 36 and then the ends of the tape ladders are attached to the bottom rail of the Venetian blind to be assembled. The bottom rail is then mounted upon the supporting arms 17 with the first cross tapes engaged beneath the plates 26. The weight 15 will constantly urge the carriage 10 and arms 17 upwardly and thus exert a constant pull on the tapes which are supported on the carriage. A stack of slats are arranged on the bar 56, and the top slat of the stack is picked up by the suction member and placed on the endless conveyor belt 41. The slat is carried through the guides 31 and 32 between the tape ladders until it strikes the stop bar 33. The rod 22 is then shifted to the right carrying the reciprocating plates 25 and 26 to the right. When this occurs, the lower plates 26 release the first cross tapes held therebeneath and the tape ladders move upward until these cross tapes engage the lower sides of upper plates 25. Spring 40 imparts a return movement to the rod 22, thus moving the plates to the left and thereby releasing the cross tapes from under plate 25. The tape ladders move upward until the next lower cross tapes engage the lower plates 26. At this point another slat is fed between the tapes and the rod 22 reciprocates again to move the tape ladders upwardly one step. The needles 60 which are in alignment with the cord openings of the slats and the bottom rail, and as the slats and tape ladders are moved upward by the carriage, the needles are automatically threaded through the openings. When the blind is completely assembled with the required number of slats, the machine is stopped and the tapes are cut off below the last slat. The needles now project below the lower-most slats. The operating cords are then attached to the ends of the needles and the carriage is permitted to move downwardly until it has completely disengaged the needles. The ends of the cords are removed from the needles and knotted so as to engage the bottom rail. The blind assembly is then removed and the operating cords are attached to the head rail.'

Various gauges may be employed for determining the length and width of blind to be assembled.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an extremely simple structure has been provided for the assembling of venetian blinds. The mechanism is such as'will automatically feed the slats into the vertically moving tapes in rapid succession. The feed mechanism may be adjusted to accommodate blinds of varying widths, the

needles likewise being adjustable longitudinally of the machine to properly align them with the cord openings.

The structure is simple, with few parts, is strong, durable and highly efficient in use.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for assembling slats and ladder tapes,-

of Venetian blinds comprising a vertically movable carriage adapted to support a bottom rail of a Venetian blind to which ladder tapes of the blind being assembled tioned at a point adjacent the path of movement of thetapes for feeding slats horizontally between the cross tapes and the side tapes of the ladder tapes as the tapes pass the slat feeding means.

2. A machine as described in claim 1 in which the drive for the carriage comprises a cable secured to the carriage and passing over a pulley positioned above the path of travel of the carriage and a weight secured to the other end of the cable.

3. A machine for assembling slats and ladder tapes of Venetian blinds comprising a feeding device for each ladder tape, means for moving the tapes through said devices, means for feeding slats between the cross tapes and side tapes of the ladder tapes, said slat feeding means comprising a belt conveyor extending from a point adjacent the path of the ladder tapes and at right angles to the tapes.

4. A machine as described in claim 3 and having means for placing slats one at a time on said conveyor.

5. In a machine for assembling slats and ladder tapes of Venetian blinds and having means for moving ladder tapes through the machine, a feeding device for a ladder tape, said tape feeding device comprising members which reciprocate in planes at right angles to the line of movement of the ladder tape and alternately engage and release the cross tapes of the ladder tape thereby permitting the ladder tape to move in increments.

6. In a machine for assembling slats and ladder tapes of Venetian blinds and having means for moving ladder tapes through the machine, a feeding device for a ladder tape, said tape feeding device having a pair of plates spaced transversely to the path of movement of the tape and parallel to each other a distance equal to the distance between the cross tapes of the ladder tape, and means for moving the plates alternately across the path of travel of the cross tapes thereby permitting the ladder tape to move in increments equal to the distance between the cross tapes.

7. In a machine for assembling slats and ladder tapes of Venetian blinds and having means for moving the tapes through the machine, an improved tape feeding device comprising a U-shaped member through the legs of which the ladder tapes move with the cross tapes in planes at right angles to the legs, a pair of plates spaced parallel to each other a distance equal to the distance between the cross tapes, said plates being movable alternately across the space between the legs to alternately engage and release the cross tapes, and means for moving the plates. 1

8. A machine for assembling slats and ladder tapes of Venetian blinds comprising a vertically movable carriage to which ladder tapes of the blind being assembled may be secured, a feeding device for each ladder tape having means for alternately engaging and releasing the cross tapes of the ladder tapes to control movement of the tape through the device, means for moving the carriage and the ladder tapes secured thereto, movement of the carriage being controlled by said tape feeding devices, and means positioned at a point adjacent the path of movement of the tapes for feeding slats horizontally between the cross tapes and the side tapes of the ladder tapes as the tapes pass the slat feeding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,457,179 McGinnis May 29, 1923 1,749,620 Winslow Mar. 4, 1930 2,262,550 Hunter Nov. 11, 1941 2,264,161 Hammer Nov. 25, 1941 2,489,467 Sherwood Nov. 29, 1949 2,532,294 Edwards et a1 Dec. 5, 1950 2,635,333 Vodra Apr. 21, 1953 

